The McGrawville Sentinel, Thursday, June 2, 1887.
EXPLOSION IN CORTLAND.
TWO MEN BURIED ALIVE UNDER THE FALLEN DEBRIS.
One Person Immediately Killed and Two Subsequently Dying—Others Severely Injured.
Monday of this week the entire county was horror stricken at the news that came from Cortland that the hundred horse power boiler in the Hitchcock Manufacturing company's carriage shop had bursted and there was loss of life. McGrawville first learned of the accident about 10 A. M. by telephone from our expressman George Case, but the story changed hands so many times here that when Mr. Case arrived at noon he said there was no use telling any more, people knew more about it than he did. Every kind of story was circulated, some saying four or five men were killed, some that the boiler was defective and had been condemned, etc., etc.
The SENTINEL, to present the account of the accident truthfully, sent a staff reporter to Cortland Tuesday morning and through the courtesy of William Howard, the engineer who sustained severe injuries, and F. S. Bennett, assistant superintendent of the wood shop, he learned the particulars direct and in detail. The building that contained the boilers is situated on Elm street, but is now a mass of ruins. A temporary high fence has been built around it to keep out sight-seers. We went to the office in the new building, which is represented in our diagram, and there engaged the services of Mr. Bennett to show and explain the extent of the damage. Three boilers had been in use—two of fifty and one of one hundred horse power, It was the largest boiler that bursted and this was situated west of the other two and the smoke stack, and the farthest from the main building. The boiler was made by B. W. Payne & Son, Elmira, and it had been in use about eighteen months and on examination March 12 a certificate was given the company stating that 80 pounds of steam pressure would be allowed by insurance companies.
The engineer had only just examined the steam gauge which registered 70 pounds and tried the water gauges finding three gauges—as much as was ever carried—and he stepped out of the room through a door (3) [refer to numbers on map—CC ed.] into what was formerly a driveway between the engine room and main building. Clifford Fuller and Henry Webster were firemen and both sat on a box (1) directly or nearly in front of the middle boiler. Frank Scott, a mason, was at work in the south-east part of the room (2) which had recently been partitioned off for a room in which to store shavings, 20 feet from the boiler.
The explosion occurred at just 9:23 o'clock A. M., a clock in the room registering that time when it stopped. Both ends of the boiler flew as if giant powder had been fired in confinement behind them. A portion of the north end of it landed about 200 feet away on the old japan [lacquer] house, going some 200 feet high over the lumber yard. A part of this end hit the engine house situated nearer the street and forced it three feet from its accustomed place, crashed through it and carrying the hose cart out into the center of the street. The hood connecting the boiler with the smoke stack, and weighing 40 pounds, was thrown in the other direction and was found in Venette street. The boiler contained 102 tubes and these all flew in the direction of the double house which is occupied by Floyd Hitchcock and the engineer, and would undoubtedly have done it damage but for the prevention of a large pear tree (0) which received the flying missiles and was broken down by them.
The brick smoke stack, 80 feet in height, was completely torn down and fell in ruin, burying alive Henry Webster and Frank Scott. Clifford Fuller, who was on the box with Webster, was blown away from it and received serious if not fatal injuries. He, however, had the presence of mind to close a valve of one of the remaining boilers to prevent escaping steam. His home is in Maple avenue where he was taken and is now receiving careful attention. If he is not injured internally he will probably recover.
Webster was found beneath a heavy stick of timber and was dead when taken out of the pile of brick. Scott was found buried in a standing position and was alive. He was taken to his house…and died at 6:30 P. M.
William P. Ballard, who was assisting Scott, had just left the boiler room with the engineer, at (3), and closed the door when the explosion occurred. Ballard was terribly cut and bruised and died about 12 o'clock at his home between Cortland and Homer. Howard was hit with flying bricks on the back and ankles, but returned and closed the remaining valve. He now goes about on crutches. Richard Couch who was digging a ditch to the right of (3) was hit on the head by bricks and seriously hurt. The boiler house, blacksmith shop and old church building were completely demolished.
In the trip hammer room were usually employed a dozen men, but four had just gone over to the new building and six had stepped into another room for some shears, thus leaving only two in the room, and they escaped. About forty-five men were at work in the blacksmith shop, into which the head of the boiler crashed. The accident could probably have happened at no other time with less fatality. The smoke stack intervening probably prevented the main building from being wrecked.
The engineer and firemen were all sober, trustworthy men, each having a family. Howard has had charge of the engine four years. The persons who were in the room are so positive as to the condition of things, and corroborate each others' statements so exactly, that the cause of the accident is a mystery that will be hard to solve.
A piece of three-inch pipe was found in Frank Ingalls' yard on Greenbush street, about 700 feet away. A piece of iron tube, six inches in diameter and eight feet long, was thrown 75 rods to the residence of H. G. Ingalls. Three bricks were blown 100 rods into the yard of M. E. Rice.
Henry Webster's funeral was held from the house where he resided in Church street Tuesday afternoon. Interment was made in the McGrawville cemetery. The funerals of W. P. Ballard and Frank Scott took place yesterday. Over 200 men were employed in the immediate vicinity of where the boiler stood. The company has been shipping 70 wagons a day of late.
This is the only explosion Cortland has had since the winter of 1869, when the heating boiler of the Normal school building bursted and killed Mr. Danes, father of Editor Danes of the Homer Republican.
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| Decoration Day in New York City. |
WASHINGTON, May 31.—Nothing could be more significant of the fact that the war is over than some of the sights that have been seen in Washington the past week. Soldiers from Mississippi and Minnesota, from Massachusetts and Texas, walking around arm in arm in a peaceful capture of the city. Twenty-five or even twenty years ago, no one would have dared to predict such a scene at the national capital in 1887.
Nothing more eloquently and impressively marks the change which has been wrought in the relations of the sections or the progress which the country has made towards a permanent restoration of the union, than the presence here of thousands of the sons of veterans of both armies, from north and south, encamped under the same flag and engaged in fraternal competitions for military honors.
To most of the militia in camp under the Washington monument now, the civil war is only an unhappy tradition, and they emulate each other in their patriotic devotion to the nation's flag. Their presence on the Potomac is truly auspicious and all of them share the title of guardians of the nation.
The ceremony of opening the camp on Monday of last week was brief, but it was performed reverently and with all due pomp. About noon the Washington Light Infantry, headed by a band, marched up and formed a hollow square around the flag staff. At the foot of it lay rolled up the big flag ready to fly to the breeze. General Auger, the commandant of the camp, accompanied by certain generals, colonels, captains, and Chaplain Pyne then appeared. The chaplain stepped into the open space and offered an appropriate prayer, at the conclusion of which the flag was hauled into position while the band played "The Star Spangled Banner" and the troops saluted the colors. The commandant then issued orders governing the camp and movements of the troops during the drill.
There was a different programme for each day of the drill, though each day there were competitive drills by the infantry, artillery and Zouaves, and each day there was a dress parade at five o'clock in the afternoon. On Wednesday all Washington, apparently, was out of doors to see a brilliant street parade by the soldiery in full uniform, which made a tour of a small portion of the city after it had been reviewed by the president. The scene was a very brilliant one. The president, surrounded by the governors of different states and their staffs, with many other prominent men, occupied a grand stand erected for the purpose in front of the White House on Pennsylvania avenue. The day was perfect for pageantry, the discipline and marching of many of the organizations very fine, and the uniforms showy and striking.
There is a large crowd of visitors, and the camp affords so interesting a sight to them as well as to the citizens, that the policemen have quite as much as they can do to control the curious surging mass of people which literally overrun the ground. Military discipline is in force however, and as far as the soldiers are concerned, everything moves in order. Still some of the lads thought it was more practical than funny, when on Tuesday night they were required to do guard duty in the pouring rain.
This reminds me that the principal event at the drill ground last Tuesday was a terrific storm, which unroofed the grand stand, and filled the crowd with consternation, besides drenching it to the skin, and causing some serious accidents in the way of broken limbs. It was in the afternoon while the competitive drills were in progress. Suddenly the sky grew dark and in a moment a cyclone developed which blew a cloud of dust and sand in the direction of the grand stand until the Washington monument itself was hardly visible. In a moment more there was a downpour of rain which was equally blinding.
For a little while the scene that followed was indescribable. The grand stand swayed like a reed in the terrible gale, and the crash and noise of the flying roof made the already panic stricken crowd feel sure that the stand was giving way under it. Several of the carriages waiting on the drive outside when the roof was carried off were smashed by flying planks and timbers, and others were saved by the horses, taking fright and running away. Telegraph wires were torn from their bearings, umbrellas were hoisted only to be wrecked, people seized chairs and held them over themselves in their efforts to ward off a little of the pelting rain. Women and children shrieked and fainted and fell and got trampled upon and the paraphernalia of the pyrotechnic theatre on the drill ground was so injured that there could be no battle or fireworks that evening.
Lady—I'm getting tired of modern fiction; can't you recommend me a good, exciting standard work?
Librarian—Have you read "The Last Days of Pompeii?"
Lady—No, I believe not. Can you tell me what he died of?
Librarian—An eruption, I believe.
Decoration Observances.
Decoration day dawned bright and beautiful and in the forenoon the patriotic men and women were astir betimes, gathering flowers and forming wreathes and bouquets preparatory to decorating the graves of soldiers of the late war who have died and received burial in our [McGrawville] village cemetery. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon those who were to participate in the parade formed in line on Church street. The column consisted of the band, Sons of Veterans. Band of Hope, orator of the day and pastors, president and trustees of the village, members of the G. A. R. and the Excelsior Fire company. After marching around the principal square in the village they went to the cemetery, where they broke ranks and decorated the graves. The line of march was again taken up and continued to the Soldier's monument. This column that has been erected and dedicated to the memory of fallen heroes, was then appropriately decorated, and after prayer by Rev. A. C. Smith and a song by the glee club the orator, Rev. G. H. Brigham, was introduced. He spoke clearly and concisely. The gist of his remarks was as follows:
Soldiers and citizens, we are here to-day to eulogize the memory of our fallen comrades, but I would not open the wounds afresh of the broken hearts that may be within my hearing and so I will speak more especially of the present condition of our country—its dangers and its safeguards. I am not here, however, to take up the disputed political questions of the day—whether we shall share the franchise of the ballot box with the better half of our citizens, or to speak in favor or disapproval of any idea concerning the labor question as it is before us to-day, nor of whom we should elect to the presidency or a seat in congress; but I am here to speak of the impending evils that beset us.
One thing to be deplored is our country's being the center of attraction for the refuse of all other countries. We allow those to migrate here who are the worthless prison convicts and ill bred scums of every foreign land. But the greatest cause of evil that we have to contend with is that we are getting rich at a tremendous rate of rapidity. In the history of no other country can we find so great prosperity as has fallen to our lot since peace was declared at the close of the late war. Men have alone amassed enormous riches comparatively in a day. We probably have as many millionaires to-day as we had persons worth a hundred thousand twenty years ago, and this money-getting gives rise to impending evils just as sure as a cause produces an effect. It seems to be the highest ambition of man to amass money, and oftentimes dishonorable means are taken to do it. One man is successful in a certain pursuit and others jump into the same line. Money is used for everything and evil of all kinds springs from the love of it. It is too often the weight that over-balances men's lives. It controls the laws of the land. It turns the tables in the ballot box. The man whom we elect to office is the one who has the barrel, which we expect he will tap. An honest man almost quails at the idea of election, preferring rather to live comfortably out of office than to die a bankrupt under the title of a public officer. Money also creates luxury. The living expenses of the rich are exorbitant; excesses in the matter of show and pomp are indulged in, and it being the inborn nature of man to strive to keep pace with associates many of us who are not abundantly blessed with means go to excess in our luxuries.
What an unwarranted luxury whisky, beer and other strong drink is. If one-tenth of the amount that is expended in one year for drink and tobacco was taxed [on] our inhabitants for the support of the government, the people would rise in their might again and wipe it out with blood. We now have the dram shop but eventually it must go. The women are praying over it but the men as yet have not the back bone to stand up for their rights. The women have all the backbone. Some think that if it were proper that the sale of strong drink be prohibited our legislators would enact laws to do it. Now, I say, our legislators are but fair representatives of the men who elect them. They are men like ourselves and probably not one whit better than we are.
Why is it that the day laborer, the dealer and the manufacturer cry "hard times?" You ask either one why it is, and he will tell you that "there is an overproduction of everything; the supply is too great for the demand." But fellow citizens, this is not so. The estimate stares us in the face that half of the wage money paid day laborers in Cortland even, eventually finds an avenue of expenditure in the saloons. There are wives and children enough at home in our country who need shoes to keep every shoe manufacturer head over heels in business. There are homes that need necessary furniture, stoves, etc., enough to keep the manufactories of these articles teeming with animated life. I don't know how the corset trade is, but I venture to say that if all the women in our land who want corsets could have them the factories would have to turn out goods to the fullest extent of their capacity. Now if we were prudent and not given to drink we could supply all these needs and keep the ball rolling. There would be no cause for crying "hard times" or "over-production." Nine day laborers out of ten can as well have homes of their own when fifty years old as not. If we are industrious and saving of our earnings for the buying of necessities, thus creating a demand for reputable goods, our employers can well afford to pay us good wages, as we then in turn would return them a slight profit. This is the key to the labor problem.
If no other, there is one kind of prohibition that will prohibit, and that is what is represented within our own personal coats. I believe that God has endowed me with that quality that I can be an honest man; and you, too, can be the same. Let each of us invest ourselves with honesty and sobriety and we will carry the nation with us. Let us be patriotic. Love God and love each other. Administer to the wants of the needy and console the brokenhearted. Be kind and generous in word and deed.
And above all things commence now, and at home. Be sure you go home to-night sober, and if this has not heretofore been your custom you will note an appreciation on the part of your friends that will imbue you with new life and new courage.
Memorial Service.
A union service was held Sunday evening in the Presbyterian church on which occasion Rev. E. H. Dickinson delivered an address to the soldiers of the late war. His explanation of the portion of the text, "There is a time for war and a time for peace," was exceedingly good. He was a boy when the war broke out but he said he remembered seeing the 10th Massachusetts regiment in camp before they went to the front and also after their return and although they carried the flag more proudly after their return, yet it bore the marks of battle, and the ranks were sadly decimated, but there was an appearance of victory depicted on their faces and the welcome was a grand one.
A time for war had often been questioned, he said, by writers and speakers, but the Bible tells us that there is a time for war and there must surely be. As an instance of unjustifiable war he quoted that there might be men go from England and an equal number from France into southern Spain and there meet, facing each other, thirty men in a line, bayonets drawn, and when the order comes to "fire" they blow each other's souls into eternity; sixty are killed and neither side is bettered. But the illustration, he said, is drawn at an extremity. Neither is war justified when one man by his haranguing raises a riot; but if it is to decide the principle that involves the nation, war is then lawful—the time for it is at hand.
Before the late war our country was far from its motto "Freedom." Mason and Dixon's line divided those who loved and respected freedom and educated all classes equally alike from a part of the country where the black people were placed on a platform and "knocked down" to the highest bidder. The thought to a soldier must have been repulsive when facing the foe and at one fire he might throw into gloom a whole home, but if the principle for which he fought was right he was justified in doing it. In closing he exhorted all, both soldiers and others, to enlist in the army of the King of Kings, who, conquering goes on to conquer, as there is a reward for the faithful and the principle is surely the highest achievement of man.
EDITOR'S EASY CHAIR.
—Mrs. A. B. Seymour returned last week from visiting relatives in New York.
—Will McDonald and wife were guests of relatives in North Pitcher over Sunday.
—There will be exercises by the Band of Hope in the M. E. Church next Sunday evening, June 5. An invitation is extended to all.
—A session of County Lodge, I. O. of G. T. was held at Cincinnatus yesterday. Arthur E. Seymour of this place delivered an address in the evening.
—Burt Brooks has been home this week from Elmira business college and is soon going to New Jersey where he engages in the carpenter business.
—The afflicted people of our county have kept Dr. Barringer so busy at Cortland that he has decided to stay till the 1st of July. Read his notice in another column.
—Williams & Lane, Cortland, have an advertisement in to-day's paper that will interest everybody. They have bought M. E. Rice's stock of boots and shoes at a low figure and will sell accordingly.
—An inspection of the wonderful bargains in white goods offered this week by P. N. Chapin & Co. of Cortland, will repay examination. Messrs. Chapin & Co. have reliable goods and their prices are way down. Read their advertisement.
—Plank for laying a new roadway on the bridge on Main street has been drawn and piled up near the bridge. It should now be doing service. There is a dangerous hole in the bridge that a number of wagon wheels have run into of late and fear of expensive damages should prompt a hasty repair.
—Horace Turner, son of Henry Turner of Dog Hollow, while felling trees at Keeney Settlement, Monday forenoon, was caught by one of the trees that had lodged and afterward fell, and was badly hurt. One of his legs was broken and he was otherwise bruised. He was taken to his home after the accident.
—-It sometimes happens that special reporting on something of importance takes so much of our time that minor matters slip by us unawares. We are but pleased when from our ''Easy chair" we can discourse news items that will interest the readers and we invite a co-operation on the part of our friends to help us make this department complete. We are always thankful to be acquainted with matters of news.
—George Haskell and lady started for Little York Monday afternoon and after crossing the bridge over the creek west of the village the lady dropped her handkerchief. The horse didn't want to stop and the whip was brought into requisition. At this the horse commenced backing and ran the carriage into the mill race. The occupants jumped out just in time to save being thrown out. The wheels were injured so that the conveyance had to be returned and another one procured before the journey could be made.
—The ninth quarterly convention of the Woman's Christian Temperance union of Cortland county will be held in Solon on Wednesday, June 8, session opening at 10 o'clock A. M., and continuing through afternoon and evening. The convention will be addressed in the evening by Mrs. T. B. Stowell of Cortland, upon the subject of "Temperance Cookery." An interesting talk will also be given by the state superintendent of the department of soldiers and sailors, Miss Nason of Blodgett Mills, on the special work of that department.
—The ladies of the Presbyterian church will give a festival consisting of ice-cream, strawberries and homemade candies at Association hall, Friday, June 3.
—Kerosene oil per gallon 8 cents at M. C. Bingham's.
—Large Stock of Balbriggan and Gauze Underwear at M. C. Bingham's.
—Wanted 500 men and boys to buy Hats at M. C. Bingham's.
—Dr. W. S. Carruth will be at Dr. Hendrick's office Monday, June 12, and will extract teeth and do dental work on reasonable terms and satisfactorily. He will thereafter be here one week in every month.
—One
dollar and ninety cents in advance secures for anyone the McGRAWVILLE SENTINEL
for one year, the New York Weekly World one year, and a bound volume of
320 pages entitled the "History of the United States." This is a book that every
family should possess. Send orders to this office. Above price includes
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